I would suppose that a smaller area like on the fork ends would be the most convincing too as the larger the area the more it would be evident that it wasn't very mirror-like. At least until they started getting beat up.

Unfortunately the reason why bike makers chrome the fork ends is for durability since that is a high-damage area due to stuff being thrown up from the road at it and constant removal and re-installation of the front wheel for locking it up and setting the fork onto the cement next to the bike rack or signpost. Fake chrome paint would be even more fragile than regular paint and not nearly as sturdy as real chrome. It might look right, but it'd be exactly backwards.